Eleven states plus Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana. Three of those 11 states are in the Northeast — Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine. The political makeup of these three states is very similar to Maryland, but for some reason we are not able to pass this crucial and progressive legislation.Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 in the state, and for years Marylanders have screamed at lawmakers to not only legalize marijuana but create racial equity programs to even the playing field when it comes to the distribution of licenses and acquiring loans and grants to open...…Eleven states plus Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana. Three of those 11 states are in the Northeast — Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine. The political makeup of these three states is very similar to Maryland, but for some reason we are not able to pass this crucial and progressive legislation.Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 in the state, and for years Marylanders have screamed at lawmakers to not only legalize marijuana but create racial equity programs to even the playing field when it comes to the distribution of licenses and acquiring loans and grants to open...WW…

Former vice president Joe Biden holds a 32-point lead over President Donald Trump in Maryland, a recent poll shows.Biden was the choice of 62% of likely Maryland voters and Trump was named by 30% in a poll conducted Sept. 4-11 by OpinionWorks, an Annapolis survey research firm. of 838 voters had a 3.4-point margin of error.If those numbers hold, Biden would slightly outpace Hillary Clinton’s margin over Trump in 2016, when she took 60% in Maryland and Trump took just under 34%.While 88% of Democrats and 87% of Republicans in Maryland said they will vote for the candidates of their own...…Former vice president Joe Biden holds a 32-point lead over President Donald Trump in Maryland, a recent poll shows.Biden was the choice of 62% of likely Maryland voters and Trump was named by 30% in a poll conducted Sept. 4-11 by OpinionWorks, an Annapolis survey research firm. of 838 voters had a 3.4-point margin of error.If those numbers hold, Biden would slightly outpace Hillary Clinton’s margin over Trump in 2016, when she took 60% in Maryland and Trump took just under 34%.While 88% of Democrats and 87% of Republicans in Maryland said they will vote for the candidates of their own...WW…

Beginning Oct. 1, Maryland will become the first state to ban expanded polystyrene foam, or Styrofoam, food and beverage packaging. There is a growing awareness that Styrofoam is harmful to both our environment and public health.To pass the law, a broad coalition of environmental advocates, students and small business owners — including Trash-Free Maryland, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters and the Maryland Sierra Club — helped communicate the need for a uniform state law to address the significant negative impact of Styrofoam.Made from in factories that spew toxic fumes and...…Beginning Oct. 1, Maryland will become the first state to ban expanded polystyrene foam, or Styrofoam, food and beverage packaging. There is a growing awareness that Styrofoam is harmful to both our environment and public health.To pass the law, a broad coalition of environmental advocates, students and small business owners — including Trash-Free Maryland, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters and the Maryland Sierra Club — helped communicate the need for a uniform state law to address the significant negative impact of Styrofoam.Made from in factories that spew toxic fumes and...WW…

Matthew Sherring, a former top official at the Maryland Environmental Service, refused to answer more than 170 questions during an appearance before a legislative committee on Thursday.His refusal to tell the committee about the service’s financial and employment practices — particularly its decision to give a lucrative severance to a former chief of staff to Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) — infuriated members of the Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight.They accused him of stonewalling the committee’s investigation and they vowed to press ahead for...…Matthew Sherring, a former top official at the Maryland Environmental Service, refused to answer more than 170 questions during an appearance before a legislative committee on Thursday.His refusal to tell the committee about the service’s financial and employment practices — particularly its decision to give a lucrative severance to a former chief of staff to Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) — infuriated members of the Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight.They accused him of stonewalling the committee’s investigation and they vowed to press ahead for...WW…

Last month, The that nuclear energy behemoth Exelon, owner of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. and five other utilities, may spin off its electricity-generation business into a new, separate company.The reason for this impulse is obvious: Exelon’s nuclear business is bleeding money and threatens the company’s stock prices. Exelon is desperate to unload its money-losing nuclear power plants as soon as possible.The problem Exelon faces unloading its nuclear business is equally obvious: Investors and creditors also know the reactors are bleeding money — and they won’t let the spinoff move...…Last month, The that nuclear energy behemoth Exelon, owner of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. and five other utilities, may spin off its electricity-generation business into a new, separate company.The reason for this impulse is obvious: Exelon’s nuclear business is bleeding money and threatens the company’s stock prices. Exelon is desperate to unload its money-losing nuclear power plants as soon as possible.The problem Exelon faces unloading its nuclear business is equally obvious: Investors and creditors also know the reactors are bleeding money — and they won’t let the spinoff move...WW…

The proposed Eastern Shore Pipeline Project, which would bring fracked natural gas from Delaware into Somerset County, runs primarily through low-income communities of color, a recent analysis by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network found.Out of the 40 census blocks surrounding the proposed pipeline route through Maryland, only four were not identified as potential environmental justice populations. There are especially large majority minority and low-income populations concentrated around Salisbury in Wicomico County, where the proposed pipeline project would begin. The also found a large...…The proposed Eastern Shore Pipeline Project, which would bring fracked natural gas from Delaware into Somerset County, runs primarily through low-income communities of color, a recent analysis by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network found.Out of the 40 census blocks surrounding the proposed pipeline route through Maryland, only four were not identified as potential environmental justice populations. There are especially large majority minority and low-income populations concentrated around Salisbury in Wicomico County, where the proposed pipeline project would begin. The also found a large...WW…

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted Friday night to pass a repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights out of the committee.“It should be retitled ‘The Reinstatement of the LEOBR,’” Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City) told Maryland Matters in a text message after the voting session.Carter, the bill’s sponsor, said the bill had been amended to restore “all of the things that are unnecessary in the bill, which completely guts the concept of a repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.”Following a Thursday, Carter went cautiously into the voting session...…The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted Friday night to pass a repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights out of the committee.“It should be retitled ‘The Reinstatement of the LEOBR,’” Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City) told Maryland Matters in a text message after the voting session.Carter, the bill’s sponsor, said the bill had been amended to restore “all of the things that are unnecessary in the bill, which completely guts the concept of a repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.”Following a Thursday, Carter went cautiously into the voting session...WW…

After nearly 30 hours of voting and two weeks of , the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee passed the final bill in its sweeping police reform package out of the committee late Thursday night.The package is expected to be presented on the Senate floor on Friday afternoon.Judicial Proceedings Chairman William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery) thanked his members for pushing through what he described as “the most difficult problem set I think any of us have worked on since we’ve been in the General Assembly.”“Obviously our work is not done, but I’m tremendously proud of the package that we’ve put...…After nearly 30 hours of voting and two weeks of , the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee passed the final bill in its sweeping police reform package out of the committee late Thursday night.The package is expected to be presented on the Senate floor on Friday afternoon.Judicial Proceedings Chairman William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery) thanked his members for pushing through what he described as “the most difficult problem set I think any of us have worked on since we’ve been in the General Assembly.”“Obviously our work is not done, but I’m tremendously proud of the package that we’ve put...WW…

Marianne Williamson, the New Age author and erstwhile presidential contender, has endorsed Greenbelt Mayor Colin Byrd in his effort to oust U.S. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) in next year’s Democratic primary.“Time for a whole new kind of leadership,” Williamson tweeted earlier this week. “I support @MayorByrd for Congress against Steny Hoyer. He’s the youngest Black mayor in America and a longtime champion against white supremacy who supports reparations, paying college athletes & a Green New Deal.”This is not Williamson’s first endorsement of a Hoyer foe. Last year, she...…Marianne Williamson, the New Age author and erstwhile presidential contender, has endorsed Greenbelt Mayor Colin Byrd in his effort to oust U.S. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) in next year’s Democratic primary.“Time for a whole new kind of leadership,” Williamson tweeted earlier this week. “I support @MayorByrd for Congress against Steny Hoyer. He’s the youngest Black mayor in America and a longtime champion against white supremacy who supports reparations, paying college athletes & a Green New Deal.”This is not Williamson’s first endorsement of a Hoyer foe. Last year, she...WW…

The Green Party candidate running for a Baltimore City Council seat clinched one decisive victory recently ― 85% of the vote for a union endorsement.The Metro Baltimore Council AFL-CIO, the largest labor union council in Maryland, announced the endorsement of Franca Muller Paz for the 12th District City Council seat this week. It is the first time the council has endorsed a third-party challenger.Democratic incumbent Councilman Robert Stokes Sr., who won the party’s nomination with 40% of the vote in a close primary earlier this year.Muller Paz has racked up several endorsements, including...…The Green Party candidate running for a Baltimore City Council seat clinched one decisive victory recently ― 85% of the vote for a union endorsement.The Metro Baltimore Council AFL-CIO, the largest labor union council in Maryland, announced the endorsement of Franca Muller Paz for the 12th District City Council seat this week. It is the first time the council has endorsed a third-party challenger.Democratic incumbent Councilman Robert Stokes Sr., who won the party’s nomination with 40% of the vote in a close primary earlier this year.Muller Paz has racked up several endorsements, including...WW…